Intermodal leads weekly traffic gains

Written by
William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) on April 10, 2014 reported increased U.S. rail traffic for the week ending April 5, 2014 with 296,039 total U.S. carloads, up 5.4% compared with the same week last year. Total U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 261,084 units, up 12.6% compared with the same week last year. Total combined U.S. weekly rail traffic was 557,123 carloads and intermodal units, up 8.7% compared with the same week last year.

Nine of the 10 carload commodity groups posted increases compared with the same week in 2013, including grain with 19,741 carloads, up 16.8%, and petroleum and petroleum products with 14,779 carloads, up 11%. The commodity showing a decrease compared with the same week last year was forest products with 10,948 carloads, down 0.7%.

For the first 14 weeks of 2014, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 3,898,778 carloads, up 1.2% compared with the same point last year, and 3,464,083 intermodal units, up 4.4% from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 14 weeks of 2014 was 7,362,861 carloads and intermodal units, up 2.7% from last year.

Canadian railroads reported 76,662 carloads for the week, down 6.5%, and 58,425 intermodal units, up 12.4% compared with the same week in 2013. For the first 14 weeks of 2014, Canadian railroads reported cumulative volume of 1,013,893 carloads, down 6.9% from the same point last year, and 728,355 intermodal units, up 2.3% from last year.

Mexican railroads reported 15,755 carloads for the week, up 1.3% compared with the same week last year, and 9,802 intermodal units, up 3.6%. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first 14 weeks of 2014 was 211,189 carloads, up 2% from the same point last year, and 132,783 intermodal units, up 1% from last year.

Combined North American rail volume for the first 14 weeks of 2014 on 13 reporting U.S., Canadian, and Mexican railroads totaled 5,123,860 carloads, down 0.5% compared with the same point last year, and 4,325,221 intermodal trailers and containers, up 4% compared with last year.